A New Holiday Tradition: Holiday Travel Ideas for Every Personality Type

The holiday season, a time mostly associated with joy and celebration, can also cause equal amounts of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. Instead of feeling joy, we may feel physically or mentally exhausted, sometimes even both. Unending shopping lists, crowded places, hectic schedules – it can all leave us wondering, “Why do I keep doing this to myself?”

There are several answers to this question. “It’s tradition” is probably high up on the list. There is something to that – by adhering to tradition, you get to share experiences with family and friends. When you are all gathered together, exchanging gifts and feeling blissful, there’s a chance that the “Ah, this is why I keep doing this” thought will crop up.

Traditions are traditions because they hold sentimental value, help foster emotional connections with the people who are important to us, and offer a sense of belonging. Traditions help us preserve our heritage and shared history, and they ensure that values, customs, and rituals will be passed down. They anchor our lives, busy and chaotic as they tend to be.

But some of us will not get the “Ah, this is why I keep doing this” thought. If you have found yourself wondering what the fuss is all about with the holidays, if it feels like an obligation to you, or if you genuinely never find an answer to the “Why do I keep doing this to myself?” question… What if this year you decided to approach the holiday season a little differently?

If you are ready for an alternative approach to the holidays this year, this article will serve as a starting point. For those of you who are ready to embrace something different, break free from the expectations and obligations that come with the holiday season, and explore options that are more aligned with your values and personality type, we invite you to consider a few days of holiday travel.

A trip to fill up your cup, to inspire you, to indulge in self-care, or to go on an adventure. This choice can be liberating and fulfilling in so many ways as we shift the focus from external expectations and traditions to internal desires and personal values. If you’re ready for it, let’s explore what might be a good fit for you!

Breaking with Tradition

Before deciding to go on vacation over the holidays, there are some things to consider. Breaking with tradition during this time might be an easy choice for some personalities, while for others it takes a bit more thinking and convincing. There are good reasons to do it, but equally, there are reasons not to. Let’s take a look at both sides.

Breaking from tradition might mean missing out on shared experiences. This can lead to feelings of loneliness. After all, if you’re the only one not partaking in this year’s festivities, feelings of guilt can take center stage. If this is the case, it might not be in your best interest to break with tradition quite yet.

The people you have previously shared holiday traditions with might very much be looking forward to doing so again this year. They might not understand when you announce that, this year, it’s going to be different. When you inform them that you won’t be able to attend the festivities because you’re taking the time for some holiday travel, they might not respond supportively, as they could perceive your decision to do so as selfish or even ungrateful. But, then again, if you invite some of them to come along with your idea – if this fits with your goals for the trip – they might become more positive in their attitudes.

And for those personality types who revel in routine and predictability, venturing into the unknown by embracing an unconventional holiday might be too big a change for them to truly enjoy themselves. Smaller steps might be more advisable. A day trip, perhaps?

For some of our readers, just the idea of skipping the holidays makes them sigh with relief. Adhering to the expectations of the holidays and keeping up with all of the (social) obligations can be stressful. Opting for an alternative holiday approach can provide them with an escape from the hustle and bustle. Reimagining the holidays gives these personalities a chance to stay true to themselves, to prioritize self-care, to focus on filling up their cup, to relax, or to celebrate in a way that will resonate with their values and personality, rather than conform to societal norms.

Travel Tips for Every Personality Type

If an unconventional holiday season sounds intriguing to you, whether that is a full on “Yes!” or a very doubtful, barely audible “…maybe,” then keep reading for personalized holiday travel tips for each of the 16 personality types. Of course, we are offering somewhat generalized tips. Taking into account our extensive research, we kept the options open to any type of budget – these trips can be taken internationally or within your own country, state, or region, as fits your wallet. Take these suggestions as a jumping-off point, and make them your own as much as possible!

Analyst Personality Types

Architect (INTJ): A Solo Expedition Filled with History and Culture

Visit a place rich with history or culture (or both!), where you can explore and research. Add to the anticipation by finding places off the beaten track and coming up with a strong itinerary to fuel your inspiration.

Logician (INTP): A Road Trip to a New City

Indulge your curiosity by picking a city that hosts a variety of museums, art galleries, or planetariums, so you can learn new things. But get there in a roundabout way: start off with a road trip through the countryside, allowing room for unexpected discoveries and exploration.

Commander (ENTJ): A Versatile Adventure

Come up with some clear goals for what you want to get out of this trip, including a list of must-see attractions and adventures to experience, as well as some luxurious downtime. Challenges, a sense of accomplishment, and relaxation: a little bit of everything would be fantastic.

Debater (ENTP): A Creative Retreat

Your ideal vacation combines your love for adventure with intellectual stimulation and creativity. Find an artistic and creative group that offers workshops and intellectual or philosophical discussions, with room in the schedule to spontaneously go on an exploring adventure.

Diplomat Personality Types

Advocate (INFJ): A Meditation Retreat

Turn inward this holiday season: choose a Zen-like retreat where you can unwind, engage in soul-searching, practice some yoga, and have ample time to reflect. A wellness retreat will set you up for great things in the new year.

Mediator (INFP): An Inspirational Tour

Immerse yourself in art and nature, providing yourself with some much-needed peace and quiet as well as inspiration. For example, set off on a literary tour, ending with a few days of writing in a cabin in the woods.

Protagonist (ENFJ): Blooming Ecotourism

Explore the beauty of our planet while actively contributing to its preservation – book or create an ecotour. Together with a small group of friends, you can engage in eco-friendly activities, like visiting a wildlife conservation, seeing the botanical gardens in nearby cities, or taking a journey through some pristine natural landscapes. This holiday travel will leave you with cherished memories of both nature and people.

Campaigner (ENFP): A Spontaneous, Last-Minute Trip

Embrace your sense of adventure by not planning anything – except your starting and ending points. Show up to the airport and pick the first flight out, or do the same at the train station. Find local bed-and-breakfast places, meet interesting people, and set off for a new town every day.

Sentinel Personality Types

Logistician (ISTJ): Cruising to Relaxation

With top-quality cuisine, organized entertainment, and comfortable accommodations, a cruise is the perfect vacation for you. You can plan your days, ensuring that you get to see the best parts of the port destinations, without any of the stress of managing every detail yourself.

Defender (ISFJ): Travel with a Mission

Take on a mission this holiday season – that no one you care about has to go through the holidays alone. Create a road trip to visit single friends who are too far from their loved ones to celebrate the holidays, whose families are abroad, or who can’t travel due to work, and share some time together to make their – and, by extension, your – holiday memorable.

Executive (ESTJ): Tours, Treks, and Togetherness

Plan a detailed couple of days with guided tours and specific goals to delight you and your loved ones. Incorporate a variety of excursions – a historical city tour, a national park adventure, a major sporting event, and so on. Also be sure to incorporate some time to honor the holidays in the ways that you want, with the people close to you, and to start building your own traditions.

Consul (ESFJ): Family and Friend Bonding Time

Agree with your loved ones not to buy any presents this year, and pool your money to spend time together in another home – whether it’s in the same zip code or not doesn’t matter very much. The trip will give you new opportunities to bond without being bogged down by to-do lists or stressful shopping.

Explorer Personality Types

Virtuoso (ISTP): A Thrilling Outdoor Trip

If you have a motorcycle license, a long camping motor trip will have you enjoying the thrill of the ride and the ability to go on little side adventures, like hiking and rock climbing – all while providing you with the option to stop and relax at any point. You can achieve the same results with a bike or a car, of course.

Adventurer (ISFP): A Bohemian Vacation

Break free from the constraints of traditional tourism, immerse yourself in local culture and arts, and enjoy a few relaxed and spontaneous days. Skip the big cities, and find yourself an under-the-radar town that attracts artists of all kinds.

Entrepreneur (ESTP): Extreme Sports to Spike Your Adrenaline

An action-packed trip with sports, treks, and other activities: this will be a fun time for you! Letting go of all of the expectations that come with the holidays and going bungee jumping, white-water rafting, or underwater spearfishing will allow you to fully embrace the here and now and fill your thrill-seeking cup up to the brim.

Entertainer (ESFP): A City with Dazzling Entertainment

Visit a vibrant city that’s known for its holiday festivities to explore Christmas markets, drink mulled wine with strangers, enjoy dazzling light displays, and attend holiday concerts and shows. An engaging, social, and exciting trip is just what you need to end this year on a high note!

Break with Convention – If It Feels Right

The pull of tradition is strong, but there is more than one path to experiencing the holiday season’s magic. For those personalities who are questioning why they are participating in the holiday hustle, going on a soul-refreshing vacation is an alternative approach to the season that can offer a liberating escape.

A holiday vacation can offer a unique opportunity to reflect on what truly matters to you and to reconnect with yourself – whether you do it on a solo trip or bring your loved ones along for the ride. This is your chance to break free from conventional holiday expectations and focus on what you want.

But for other personalities, maybe this article was all the adventure that you needed for now, firmly grounding you in the tradition of celebrating the holidays at home. Whether you pack your bags to go or fire up the stove to stay home, make this season your own.

What are your thoughts on this alternative approach to the holiday season? Could you see yourself skipping the holidays in favor of adventure, exploration, or relaxation? Let us know your plans below!